Mercury-vapor apparatus.



J. T. H. DEMPSTER. MERCURY VAPOR APPARATUS.

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m T m 0y B APPLICATION FILED MAB. 6, 1905.

a sheet metal dish 22, the outer edges of which are hermetically sealed about the outer edges of diaphragm 16. The center of this dish-shaped closure 22 is provided with. an opening 23 about which is arranged anannular flange 24, carrying a glass'sealing member 25 which, prior to the completion of the apparatus, is provided with an Opening through which the air may be exhausted, but which is finally sealed off as shown. in the drawing. Preferably the space within closure 22 is not completely exhausted as I prefer to have pressure enough therein to maintain the diaphragm in the position shown in the drawiug,when the lamp is not in circuit. This lamp .is connected to the direct current circuit as shown in Fig. 3' and the with ,a;i metal .closure=42 carrying a phra-gm. 43. ,.--.in$ all; respects similar to that current hows-from the lead 26 through anode 27 and filament 28 to the mercury cathode 29 and then through diaphragm 16 and electromagnetlS to the other direct current lead 30. The electromagnet 18 draws down the diaphragm 16, thus forming an in-' cipient spark at the end of the filament, and so rendering the space within the tube conductive for current, after which the lamp continues .to operate in the manner wellknown to persons skilled in the art. v

The types of lamps just described are not well adaptedfor use on, alternating current circuits, because of thepeculiarities of an alternating current flow. There is a point between each successive half wave of an alternating current. during which .no current is supplied by the source. Under such conditions a lamp ofthe above'described types would become dead during this interval of no-current flow. To overcome: this difliculty the scheme of connection shown in Fig. 4 has been utilized, in which 31 is the evacuated tube, 32 and 33 the alternating current leads, 34 and 35 reactances connecting in seriesbetween these leads and provided with the tap 36 for the purpose hereinafter de-' scribed.- The vapor tube is provided with two anodes 3'1 and .38 connecteddirectly to;

the alternatingicurrent leads 32 andi33, and is also provided with amercury-cathode 39 and an auxiliary or starting electrode 40. separated from cathode 39. by a bridge wall '41. :.,The lowerend of tube; 31 is proviaied shownaimEig. .2. I v'lhls'diaphragm is protected from-atmospheric pressure by an outer shield 44' and-is provided with a lead 45 connected .-;to 5131; sw1tch46, which. when. closed completes-thecircuit through an electromagnet..47., toithertap 36 of .the reactance' coils. The: auxiliary orstarting. electrode. 40 is connected through switch 48; and a resistance 49'tothe.alternatingcurrentlead 33. .i

To start the lamp switches 46 and 48 are closed so that current may fiow from lead 33 through resistance 49 and switch .48 to esaaae the starting electrode 40, then through the thin layer" of mercury which covers the and ionizes or otherwise affects the space through the tube so that; current from anodes 38 and 37 will flow through the mercury vapor to cathode 39. As is well-known the current flow from these anodes is sub-. stantially unidirectional 'in character so that the current delivered from the tube through conductor. 45 isjunidirectional, and may be used for charging a storage battery '50, or for doing otherwork. The lamp or rectifier is prevented from going out duringthev dead points of the alternating current pressure, because of the reactive discharges of the coils 34 and 35.v Thus'if the current flow is from electrode 38 to cathode 39, and finally back of reactance stored up .in 1'eactance34 a certain amount of energy which will be available for work as soon as this flow ot' current ceases. In other words, before the current from electrode 38 reaches zero thereactance 34 will begin to discharge through, the tube by way of electrode 37 thereby producing an overlapping wave of current which will, maintain the evacuated space in a conductive condition until the next successive half way of "pressure.

Although type of apparatus which may be used to produce direct current from alternating current to charge storage batteries and do other similar work it should be. understood that 'to the tap 36 and then by way 34 to the lead 32, there will. be.

I have illustrated m Fi 4 n.-

While my improvementis particularly."

adapted as a starting means, it also. possesses valuable features as a shock resisting device to prevent fracture of-the glass tube by the sudden rush of mercury when the lamp/ or rectifier is suddenly inverted, as

may-occur during manufacture or transportatlon, r v H What I claim as new landcdesire' to. secure by Letters Patent of the *United'States, is:

1..- Av gas or vapor electric apparatus havin a movable diaphragm, an electrode movab e therewith, and electromagnetic means for moving said diaphragm; 2, The combination of a source of our rent, a vapor electric apparatus having an evacuated chamber and a movable diaphragm, and electromagnetic means for moving said diaphragm to initiate the flow of current from said source through said evacuated chamber.

3. An evacuated chamber having a resilient diaphragm in the wall thereof, a heavy liquid in said chamber, and means for maintaining a pressure less than atmospheric on the outside of said diaphragm. v

l. In a vapor electric apparatus, a resilient diaphragm of conducting material, an electrode electrically connected thereto, and automatic means for moving said diaphragm and electrode. 7

In avapor electric apparatus, a resilientdiaphragm of conducting materiahan electrode electrically connected thereto, au

'tomatic means for moving said diaphragm,

and means for maintaining a pressure less than atmospheric on both sldes of said diaphragm. I,

6. In a vapor electric apparatus, the co11 1-.

bination of an evacuated envelop, a liquid body therein, and a resilient diaphragm of metal in-the wall of said envelop.

7. A vapor electric device having a resilient diaphra in the wall thereof, a body of heavy liquid therein, and means for maintaining a pressure less than atmos-' pheric on the other surface. of said diaphragm. I

8. A. vapor electriiideyice having an evacuated envelop with a; movable diaphragm in the wall thereof, electrodes-in said envelop, and means for automatically moving said diaphragm to start an are between said electrodes." a

"9. The combination of an envelop, electrodes therein through which current initially passes, and a diaphragm automatically movable to start an arc in the path of said initial current.

10. .The combination of an evacuated envelop having a diaphragm in the wall thereof, magnetizable material carried by said diaphragm, and an electro'magnet in inductive relation tosaid magnetizable material.

11. The combination of an evacuated envelop closed by a metal diaphragm, an anode Within said envelop, a mercury electrode carried by said diaphragm, and meansfor moving said diaphragm to start an arc to said mercury electrode.

In Witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand this 3rd day of March, 1905.

JOHN T. H. DEMPSTER.

Witnesses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, HnLEN ORroRo. 

